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| The Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud, a prime tourist destination in Ilocos Norte |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
WITH THE influx of tourists
visiting Ilocos Norte this summer, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office
(INPPO) have chosen 48 tourist police officers to ensure the safety of all
visitors.
This was disclosed by P/Sr.
Supt. Antonio Mendoza Jr., new INPPO officer-in-charge.
A 2010 memorandum of
understanding between the police and the Dept. of Tourism calls for the
training of tourist-oriented police officers, particularly in tourism areas.
In Ilocos Norte, those chosen
to become members of tourist police are oriented in basic community relations
as well as trained in communication skills.
According to Mendoza, the
tourist police assigned in at least 30 major tourism destinations in the entire
province must be fit with good character and pleasing personality.
Each tourist police unit is
headed by a police chief inspector-ranked official who will be tasked to
“enforce laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives, properties
and environment in his area of responsibility; exercise the general power to
arrest, detain, search and seize in accordance with existing laws; conduct
regular patrol to ensure the safety and protection of both tourists and
residents within his jurisdiction; coordinate with concerned police stations in
monitoring and investigating all cases involving tourists; and take immediate
appropriate action to resolve conflicts.”
Provincial officials expect
more tourists to visit Ilocos Norte as they have prepared a variety of
activities for the whole summer season.
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